Thursday, November 20, 2008

I hate Toronto's new PVT

City hall apparently thinks that no one in Toronto needs a car. Most car-owners will effectively see their annual registration / licensing fees increase by 80%.* Bad car owners! Bad! Don't you know that the TTC will magically transport you anywhere you want to go, in a 100% stress-free environment? The TTC never goes on strike, and its operators are hardly ever unpleasant. BAD CAR OWNERS! BAD! And when you're not taking the TTC, you can walk. The weather is never inclement. Or hey, ride a bicycle! You won't be breathing in any pollution or particulate matter, because the public transit system is so efficient, hardly anyone drives! Heck, they're eventually going to rip down the rest of the Gardiner Expressway. We're on the verge of using matter-energy transport. Or flying carpets. Who needs cars? Bring on the $60 annual Personal Vehicle Tax! That'll learn them right-wing, conservative, car-drivin' rednecks up real nice! (They're probably from out west, anyway.)

torn: despite that high cost, Californians are still avid car-drivers. This is my point: if the intent of high registration costs is to deter people from driving, it's not working. It seems to me that it's just a cash grab under the guise of something else (i.e. progressive environmental policy, city-friendliness, etc.)

snooze: it's cheaper in northern Ontario ($37) according to the MTO website